Dear Member of Artists Urban Village:It is my pleasure to invite you to the Annual General Meeting of Artists Urban Village that will take place on Thursday, June 11, 2015 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm.

The meeting will be held at the Alberta Craft Council, 10186 – 106 Street.Light refreshment will be provided.It's been an exciting year and The Board of Directors look forward to bringing you up to date on the progress of the Artists Quarters project.

Please rsvp by June 4 at:artistsurbanvillage@gmail.comHaving enough members in attendance to reach quorum is importantso please plan on joining us.The cost for your annual membership is $20/individual and $50/organizational.Memberships will be available at the door (cash or cheque only).Please feel free to bring along prospective members.If you are interested in standing for election as a Board Member please contact the President, Shirley Serviss at:sserviss@telus.netOur Bylaws state:Nominations must be in writing and signed by the candidate and two members of the society who are in good standing; nominations may be made up to ½ an hour prior to the election of Directors at the Annual General Meeting.Thank you and I look forward to seeing you on June 11!Shirley ServissPresidentArtists Urban Village

Invitation to all members of the Edmonton Arts Community!

invite you to an

Artists Quarters Live/work Residential

Information Session

Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm

The Meeting Room of the new Boyle Street Plaza, 9538-103 A Avenue

[Street Parking is available in the area, or there is a parking lot across the street]

The Artists Quarters will house individual artists and arts organizations in a uniquely creative mixed-use facility - an urban arts village. Located at the corner of 102A Avenue and 96 Street in the Quarters Downtown only two blocks from the core of the arts district and one block from the proposed new LRT station.

The project will be a sustainable development that will provide home and studio space for multi-generational, mixed-income artists of all artistic disciplines, above four floors of space for non-profit arts organizations. The project will contain 64 residential live/work units combining single or family size, equity and non-equity affordable units, ranging in size from 700 to 1,500 sq.ft. The form of tenure will be modeled on the cooperative structure.

Over 50% of the units have been allocated, but there is still an opportunity to express your interest in remaining units.

This information session will address the live/work residential; questions you may have about co-operatives, qualifications, ownership, subsidies and downtown location will be addressed at this meeting. Space is limited so please let us know if you are able to attend. If you know others who may be interested in making Artists Quarters their home, we'd appreciate if you would pass this information on.

RSVP by January 21st, 2014

By email to jmayne@artshab.com

For information please contact:

Julian Mayne, Project Coordinator

Arts Habitat Edmonton

jmayne@artshab.com

or

Lynn Hannley, Managing Director

Communitas Group

lhannley@communitas.ca

*This information session is for live/work residential only.

For information on the work only studios and arts organizational space please contact:

Linda Huffman, Executive Director, Arts Habitat Edmonton

lhuffman@artshab.com

Invitation to all members of the Edmonton Arts Community!

Artists Quarters Information Session

Thursday, June 13, 7:00 p.m.

the Meeting Room of the new Boyle Street Plaza

9538 103A Avenue

(Street parking is available in the area, or there is a pay parking lot across the street.)

Over a third of the units have been allocated but there is still opportunity to express your interest in Artists Quarters.

Join us for an Information Session on Thursday, June 13.

Explore below and through this site to find out more about the project, the combined work of Arts Habitat and Artists Urban Village.

As the project is still in the design stages, you will be involved in visualizing not only the structure of the building, but also the nature of the community. Artists Quarters is a housing co-operative so every resident will have a say.

Questions you may have about co-operatives, qualifications, ownership, subsidies, and downtown location will be addressed at this meeting, but you are also welcome to contact our consultants at Communitas, Lynn Hannley or Brian Scott (see their page on this site).

Please RSVP by June 10th if you'll be attending. lhannley@communitas.ca

Calling all members of the Edmonton Arts Community! Artists, technicians, administrators, supporters, etc….We want to introduce you to the live/work residential opportunities in theA R T I S T S Q U A R T E R SArts Habitat Edmonton and Artists Urban Village - a chapter of PAL CanadaInvite you to anInformation SessionWhen: Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 p.m.Location: Prince of Wales Armoury (please see map below) 10440 – 108 Avenue NW The Kerr Room – 2nd. FloorThe Artists Quarters will house individual artists and arts organizations in a uniquely creative mixed-use facility - an urban arts village. Located at the corner of 102A Avenue and 96 Street in the Quarters Downtown only two blocks from the core of the arts district and one block from the proposed new LRT station. The project will be a sustainable development that will provide home and studio space for multi-generational, mixed-income artists of all artistic disciplines above four floors of space for non-profit arts organizations. The project will contain 64 residential live/work units combining single or family size, equity and non-equity affordable units, ranging in size from 700 to 1,500 sq.ft. The form of tenure will be modeled on the cooperative structure. Common areas are crucial for the creation of community and so we envision community facilities with kitchen and dining area, a shared library, workshop and community garden. Enjoy some light refreshment and learn more about this exciting new development!RSVP by March 4 tolhuffman@artshab.com (If you cannot make it on March 9 but would like to be on our mailing list please email Linda Huffman) For further information please contact: Linda Huffman, Executive Director, Arts Habitat Association 780 932-3676lhuffman@artshab.com LRT construction and road closures continue outside the Prince of Wales Armoury. The building can only be accessed by heading eastbound on 108th. Ave. There is a parking lot in front of the building.

Edmonton non-profit groups plan for downtown artists village

by Gordon Kentthe Edmonton Journal February 12, 2013 7:30 PM

Sketch of the Artists Quarters, a 17-storey, 64-unit residence/workspace in the Quarters for artists, including seniors. It is to be built on the site of the demolished Mount Royal Hotel at 96th Street and 102A Avenue in downtown Edmonton. Photograph by: Supplied , Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - Edmonton could soon have its own Quartet in the Quarters, under plans for a new downtown building expected to attract numerous senior artists as residents.Unlike the recent Maggie Smith movie about a home for retired British musicians, the 64-unit Artists Quarters is intended to provide housing where young and old can work in their fields.But Shirley Serviss, head of one of the non-profit groups behind the development, said Tuesday she has heard the comparison.“I had someone mention it to me last night. She thought of our project all the way through (the film). I must confess I did too,” Serviss, president of Artists Urban Village, said with a laugh.“Other people have asked me what happens when you put a lot of artists in a building. I don’t know. We will find out.”The 17-storey tower at 96th Street and 102A Avenue will incorporate the demolished Mount Royal Hotel site, an adjoining building and a lane and parking lot to the west.The bottom four floors will have space for arts groups, shops and studios, while the rest will be a mix of affordable and market-priced homes where families, singles and senior artists can work as well as live.Serviss thinks the $30-million facility will appeal to older performers, painters, singers and others who’ve earned a living in the arts, giving them a place to remain active in their professions and interact with colleagues.“What my experience has been with friends who went into nursing homes for various reasons is they felt isolated,” said Serviss, a writer.“I remember one elderly poet friend saying, ‘Nobody here reads’ … She continued to publish into her 80s.”The building will have soundproofing, ventilation and other features so residents can practice the violin or paint without bothering their neighbours, she said.Artists Urban Village is working on the proposal with Arts Habitat Edmonton.The two groups established an artists’ co-op that opened on 118th Avenue in 2011, and so far have received interest in about 10 units in their newest project.“It’s so close to the downtown arts district,” Arts Habitat executive director Linda Huffman said, adding the future Chinatown LRT stop and Quarters activity are added lures.“I think we could be one of the (area’s) pioneer developments, so it’s exciting.”The city, which has committed about $8 million in land and funding, hopes construction can start this year, but Huffman said they first have to firm up support from other levels of government and private fundraising.They’re holding meetings in March to outline the plan for prospective residents and organizations.While there are homes for retired artists, often performers, in Toronto, Vancouver and other centres around the world, this facility will offer an unusual blend of ages, incomes and work space, Huffman said.“To actually create what we’re calling an artists’ village has that type of dynamic that we’re confident will really flourish.”

(. . .a sneak peek. . .)

We all understand what a first draft is. A sketch outlining the ideas, their flow and structure. Stage one of our Feasibility Study is just that: the collected input of design charettes and the needs of our foreseen community of occupants, the architects and engineers knowledge, the possibilities of the given site. . .all balanced against the restrictions of the site.

Happily our needs and dreams can be realized on the corner of 96th Street and 102A Avenue.

When completing this rather sizable document it became obvious an image was needed to convey the impact of the project.

So, though few artists show their first drafts, this is what the design team at Kasian/Williams Engineering have visualized. It's not "the real thing", but you can see the podium/tower concept, the south-facing residential tower. This is not "the look" exactly, but it's the feel.

According to the design in its first draft. . .

The first four floors of the podium will hold what we're loosely calling "arts/commercial" organizations and studio space for artists, artisans, craftspeople. Lots of studio space. And a theatre. There's an atrium going all the way up to collect sunlight and gatherings for performances or exhibitions.

The fifth floor of the podium begins residential/studio space. Which continues up the tower. All residential spaces are live/work. There'll be 3 floors of parking beneath (and a bicycle lock-up), a loading dock out back for large artworks and supplies and performance sets, a private entrance for residents, and lots of sunshine. The building will be as green and energy efficient as possible.

(As a footnote, it's a little dangerous, but when we're looking at the building from this angle we're facing west. It appears we're standing in the middle of 102A Avenue. To get out of traffic we just have to step a metre or so right (north) and we'll be standing safely on the Art Walk at the south end of New City Park. If it's around noon hour we can maybe buy lunch from a food truck and sit on a bench to relax and look up at the Artist Quarter. Maybe you arrived here today by rail and got off a short half-block south at the new LRT line on 102 Avenue. If we were to stroll straight ahead, west on 102A, past the new home of iHuman on the south side of the avenue, in five minutes we'd be amid the Art Gallery, the Winspear, Churchill Square, the Citadel, the Stanley Milner, the CBC. If you worked in any of those fine institutions, you'd be home now.)

Important News

It's time to get involved.

On December 10th, 2012 Edmonton City Councilapproved their commitment to AUV and building the Artist Quarter (our to-be building's name). Contained in the 2013 City Budget is funding for the land on the south-west corner of 96th Street and 102A Avenue and for building the residential tower.

This confirmation of Edmonton's support for the Quarters District and the Artist Quarter in particular is enthusiastic and urges us to move forward with a detailed business plan.Not withstanding Council's commitment to fund this project there are still at least two more Council engagements needed to make this happen but now is the time to make definite plans and commitments.We are moving forward.During the first months of 2013 AUV will be holding open houses for previously declared interested stakeholders and will be actively engaging in finding prospective tenants for the business/commercial first 4 floors and the residential tower.Please watch this page for further announcements. (And become a member of Artists Urban Village today!)

. . .further news of our neighbours on the Armature in the Quarters

As announced in the December 3rd meeting below, kitty-corner to the Artist Quarter will be New City Park, a combination green space, Art Walk, plaza extending north on the east side of 96th Street. Aside from the many Green aspects of the design (water gathering and re-use), this new public space is envisioned as a pleasant summer resting spot, a flexible site to hold festivals/concerts, a winter skating rink, and a community square, a gathering point like those in so many European cities. A green continuation of the river valley, just two blocks south.

The City's website page on the Quarters has a montage of images of what the Armature will look like. Two of them are of the Armature, 96th Street, looking north from Jasper Avenue, with the new hotel on the right. The next two images are of the Park, one in daylight, the other at night. The park in those images is seen from what will be the residential tower of the Artist Quarter.

Exciting news is that our neighbour directly west on 102A Avenue will be iHuman's new and lasting home. After years of moving from place to place they will have a wonderful new studio/office facility with some living space for special needs. We couldn't have asked for a more exciting and vibrant neighbour.

At the December 3rd meeting introducing New City Park, when someone asked "Where is the art for the Art Walk going to come from?" the immediate answer was "iHuman and the Artist Quarter".

The potential of the Quarters is beginning to be realized.

(from our 'neighbours')

Please drop by on December 18, 2012 between 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. for a Holiday Open House at the Boyle Street Plaza, 9538 103A Avenue.

Come and see this beautiful new facility, enjoy some coffee, hot chocolate and treats and see the most recent renderings of the Armature streetscapes.

Please feel free to share this invitation.

We look forward to seeing you there!

(p.s. - if you haven't been in to see this remarkable building and the plaza surrounding it, the facilities and programs offered, take time to do so. It's a real example of what the Armature and the Quarters can be.)

Monday, December 3, 2012

We need your input.

The City of Edmonton is holding an open house to gather public on programming opportunities for the New City Park, located within The Quarters Downtown redevelopment area. You can listen to a presentation, view displays giving context to the project and provide your feedback on the types of activities you would like to enjoy in the park.

DATE: Monday, December 3, 2012

TIME: 4:00 - 8:00 PM

LOCATION: Boyle Street Plaza Flex Hall 9515 - 104 Avenue

PRESENTATIONS: 4:30 & 6:30 pm

We look forward to seeing you!

Honours To Board MembersArtists Urban Village board members Brenda O'Donnell and Tom McFall will be presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on Wednesday, November 14th, 2012.They are being recognized for their invaluable and vital contributions to the Arts in Alberta.Congratulations!

BLATCHFORD HANGAR, FORT EDMONTON PARKTHURSDAY DECEMBER 6 2012{ DOORS AT 6PM }{ SUPPER AT 7PM }Tommy Banks Presents:--* --C H R I S T M A SB I G B A N DB A L L--* --CONTINUOUS MUSIC BYTHE RIVER CITY BIG BANDANDDAVE BABCOCK & HIS JUMP ORCHESTRATICKETS $155.00 INCLUDING SERVICE FEEAT TICKETWEB.CA OR BY PHONE 1 888 222 6608SPONSORED BY EDMONTON NORTHERN LIGHTS ROTARY CLUB50% of proceeds to the good works of Rotaryand 50% to the Tommy Banks Performing Artists Fund of theEdmonton Community Foundation

Tommy Banks Trio packs church for fundraiser

BY NICK LEESEDMONTON JOURNAL OCTOBER 29, 2012

EDMONTON - It’s just possible a jazz lover passing the 100-year-old downtown First Presbyterian Church last week might have thought the ghost of Oscar Peterson was playing inside.The Montreal-born jazz pianist, called the “Maharaja of the keyboard” by Duke Ellington, took his final bow in 2007. But the recent piano recital at the church was out of this world.The musician inside playing an O.P. classic was former senator Tommy Banks, who once played a piano duet with Peterson.Our Tommy (“Honourable Sen. Banks” never did catch on musically) would probably say any resemblance of his playing to Peterson’s was purely coincidental.A packed crowd in the church had a fellow audience member to thank for the session by the Tommy Banks Trio, which included Banks’ drummer of 28 years, Tom Doran, and bassist Cliff Minchau.“Church congregation member Donna Lynn Smith won the services of our trio in a raffle at a dinner last February at The Mac that marked my leaving the Senate,” said Banks, who retired in December at the mandatory age of 75. “That night I announced the creation of the Tommy Banks Performing Arts Fund, the aim of which is to provide safe and affordable housing for artists. Ordinarily when we provide the auctioned, raffled or drawn services of the trio in support a charity, the winner has a house party and we provide some happy music.”But Donna Lynn had other ideas. She asked Banks if she might help the fund by staging a concert in her church.With his approval, and given a thumbs-up by the Rev. Harry Currie and church elders, Donna Lynn and friends printed and marketed tickets at $20 each.Playwrights, actors, comics, singers, musicians and others among us are the ones who push our social envelope, Banks said.“They’re ahead of most of us in matters of moral and ethical considerations,” the musician said. “The result is that in the process of entertaining us, the good ones also inform, titillate, cajole, urge, irritate, infuriate, and eventually, change us. Even the ones who don’t push that edge quite so aggressively still manage at least to make us laugh or cry or think.”Banks remembered back to the early 1970s when he was surprised by the skulduggery of friends when Petersen, considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, appeared as a guest on his televised The Tommy Banks Show.“Producer-director Don MacRae and writer Colin MacLean conspired to smuggle a second grand piano onto the set, determined I would play a duet with Oscar,” Banks said. “This was a frightening prospect. But O.P. was very considerate and he, being the pianistic genius, contrived to play in such a way as to demonstrate his unequalled talent while at the same time not making me look bad.”The next Banks’ fundraiser, with the Edmonton Northern Lights Rotary Club, is the Dec. 6 Christmas Big Band Ball at Fort Edmonton. (Tickets at ticketweb.ca.)

Dear Member of Artists Urban VillageIt is our pleasure to invite you to the Annual General Meeting of Artists Urban Village — a chapter of PAL Canada, on Thursday, November 1, 2012 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held in the Alberta Craft Council, 10186 - 106 Street (there is free parking immediately behind the building).Light refreshment will be provided.Come early and start your Christmas shopping in the Gallery Shop!!!It's been an exciting year and The Board of Directors look forward to bringing you up to date and unveiling information from our Phase I Feasibility Study. Please rsvp at:artistsurbanvillage@gmail.com. Having enough members in attendance to reach quorum is important so please plan on joining us.The cost for your annual membership is $20/individual and $50/organizational.Memberships will be available at the door (cash or cheque only). Please feel free to bring along prospective members.If you are interested in standing for election as a Board Member please contact us at:artistsurbanvillage@gmail.comOur Bylaws state:Nominations must be in writing and signed by the candidate and two members of the society who are in good standing; nominations may be made up to ½ an hour prior to the election of Directors at the Annual General Meeting.Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on November 1!The Board of DirectorsArtists Urban Village

THE QUARTERS PROJECT

Get in on the ground floor of a unique urban arts village!

In partnership with the City of Edmonton we are proposing the creation of a new arts-hub located in the Quarters Downtown.

Send a Letter of Interest to help us assess the interest and needs of artists and non-profit arts organizations who are interested in ownership or rental opportunities in our project for the Quarters Downtown.

The Quarters Project will provide residential and studio space for professional artists and non-profit arts workers, above three floors of commercial space for non-profit arts organizations.

These non-profit spaces could include galleries, artist studios, a small theatre, space for production, teaching, incubator spaces and administration.

Our goal is for these spaces to be at a level of affordability to allow professional artists and non-profit arts organizations to OWN their space or enter into long-term affordable leases.

We also invite you to a Meet & Greet Information Session

When:Monday, Nov. 21 at 7:00 P.M.

(Persons with limited mobility will find access on the main floor near the elevator from the parkade, someone will be there to direct you.) RSVP for the Meet & Greet and submit your Letter of Interest by Nov.16 tolhuffman@artshab.com

For further information please contact:

Linda Huffman, Executive Director, Arts Habitat Association

780 932-3676

Theatre Yes supports Artists Urban Village

Theatre Yes is presenting the third year of its reading series, STRIPPED DOWN Nov 10, 11, 12 at Expressionz Café 9938 –70 Avenue. Performances begin at 8:00 p.m..

Once again we would like to donate the proceeds to Edmonton Artists Urban Village.

STRIPPED DOWN features tested, HOT, new plays from Canada and around the world read by professional actors. Each reading will be paired with host-dramaturg who will provide a 5-10 minute introduction to each play, contextualizing the work for the audience. Following each reading, the host-dramaturg will facilitate a short half hour discussion, including both the cast and the audience, inviting theatre artists, academics and the general public to discuss the effectiveness and relevance the play.

Memberships will be available at the door (cash or cheque only). Please feel free to bring along prospective members.

Our Bylaws state:Nominations must be in writing and signed by the candidate and two members of the society who are in good standing; nominations may be made up to ½ an hour prior to the election of Directors at the Annual General Meeting.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you on September 27!

Linda HuffmanBoard MemberArtists Urban Village

EDMONTON –Artists Urban Village - a chapter of PAL Canada in partnership with Arts Habitat Associationare pleased to announce the completion of Edmonton’s first affordable housing co-op for artists -ArtsHab Alberta Avenue. Located above the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts, this 16-suite project is a new cornerstone in the arts-led revitalization of 118 Ave.

The new co-op will allow artists to live and work in a dynamic community that is highly motivated to support the arts. The co-op members represent a broad spectrum of arts disciplines and reflect our desire to build an arts community that embraces emerging and senior artists. The members are engaged in the creation of the co-op governance, policies and all aspects of building management. They are also looking forward to being actively involved in the neighbourhood community both as artists and residents.

"We welcomed the opportunity to partner with Arts Habitat Association on this project," says Artists Urban Village President Shirley Serviss. " We see this as the first of several Artists Urban Villages to provide affordable housing that will allow aging artists to stay engaged in and connected to the arts community, and to support emerging artists so they develop their careers in Edmonton."

Nina Haggerty Centre Director, Wendy Hollo, is delighted with the development. "The Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts was thrilled to welcome the artists co-op into the building. Their presence on the Ave helps to grow the artistic community that is palpably transforming this once beleaguered neighbourhood into Edmonton's newest arts district," she says.

Arts Habitat Association General Manager, Linda Huffman adds, “Arts and culture led regeneration has been proven to create diverse, inclusive and healthy communities. New investments such as affordable housing and facilities for the arts have long-term positive effects for the community, and are key components in the City’s strategy to revitalize 118 Ave. Literally next door to the co-op is the Alberta Cycle Building which Arts Habitat is developing into a multi-discipline arts facility.”

Actor Garett Spelliscy is one of the co-op’s first members. He has discovered the benefits that living in a co-op offers, “We’ve gotten to know all our neighbours. We’re all like-minded and we all have a sense of shared responsibility to the building and each other.”

Artists Urban Village and Arts Habitat Association wish to acknowledge the generous support of the City of Edmonton through the Cornerstones Program for Affordable Housing. We especially want to thankEdmonton Inner City Housing Society for their vision in presenting us with this outstanding opportunity. We also thank our development consultant, Lynn Hannley of The Communitas Group.